Augustiner Bräu München
Location	Munich, Germany
Owner(s)	Augustiner-Bräu Wagner KG
Year opened	1328
Annual production	90 million litres 2003
Active beers
Name Type Edelstoff Export Lagerbier Hell Helles Oktoberfestbier Märzen Pils Pilsner Maximator Doppelbock Augustiner Dunkel Dunkles Heller Bock Bock Augustiner Weissbier Weissbier

Augustiner Bräu is a brewery located in Munich, Germany. Established in 1328, it is Munich's oldest still independent brewery and produces some of Munich's most popular brands of beer.

[edit] Distribution and marketing

Augustiner Hell in the "classic" bottle

Augustiner beer is normally found within the Greater Munich area, but in the last few years it became quite popular outside of Munich, for example in Berlin where dozens of bars offer it. The reputation of the brewery is so good that the company does not engage in any advertising campaigns. As an example, when most German breweries changed their bottle to a slim and more modern design to give their beer a more classy and less old fashioned appearance some ten years ago, Augustiner stuck with the "classic" older form, often nicknamed the "Bauarbeiterhalbe" (construction worker's half liter). The labels have not changed in over 20 years either. Its brands nevertheless are among the most popular of Munich's beers, and the company regularly reaches an annual output of more than 90 million litres (2003).

Augustiner Bräu operates a beer tent on the Oktoberfest, as well as owning one of Munich's largest beer gardens, the Augustiner-Keller at Arnulfstraße 52, and several traditional bars throughout the city. In recent years, Augustiner beer has become a popular drink in several bars in Berlin; however, the amounts of Augustiner consumed in Berlin are still minuscule compared to its popularity in Munich.

In the record-breaking heat of summer 2003, the brewery refused to sacrifice brewing quality and traditional process to increase production, even though it could have sold more beer.

In the US there is one distributor named Global Village Imports, LLC. that carries Augustiner, it is located in King of Prussia, PA. Although the demand is high, the distribution is very limited.

[edit] In popular culture

Prince Zaleski and Cummings King Monk is a collection of supernatural detective short stories by author M. P. Shiel. It was released in 1977 by Mycroft & Moran in an edition of 4,036 copies. The first three Prince Zaleski stories had appeared in Shiel's first published work, Prince Zaleski (London: John Lane; Boston: Roberts Brothers, 1895). The fourth was first published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine for January, 1955. The Cummings King Monk stories were drawn from The Pale Ape and Other Pulses (1911). Although sales were fairly low in England, the translated versions did remarkably well in Germany after associating the protagonist with a certain penchant for the popular brew.

[edit] Brands

• Augustiner's most popular brand is Augustiner Helles (5.2%), a light lager beer that is given a prolonged secondary fermentation phase. This is the brand that is generally referred to when talking about Augustiner.
• Edelstoff is a slightly brighter, slightly sweeter, more sparkly, and stronger (5.6%) lager variant.
• Augustiner Dunkles, a malty dark beer
• Augustiner Pils, brewed according to the original Pilsner recipe.
• Augustiner Weissbier
• Oktoberfestbier, a style of beer (known as Märzen in German) specially brewed for the Oktoberfest. Augustiners Oktoberfest beer and Edelstoff are the only beers at the festival that are still served from traditional wooden barrels.
• Maximator, a Doppelbock and, like the Oktoberfestbier, seasonal. Brewed to coincide with Lent, this is a starkbier (strong beer, 7.5%).
• Heller Bock
• Augustiner Maibock A well lagered (conditioned) pale, seasonal beer (7.2%), only available in May and June in Munich.

All of Augustiner's brands are brewed in accordance with the Reinheitsgebot.

[edit] See also

Oktoberfest

[edit] External links

• Augustiner Bräu's Website

Coordinates: 48°08′35″N 11°33′07″E / 48.14306°N 11.55194°E / 48.14306; 11.55194